Greeley students join statewide plea for better school funding

JIM RYDBOM/jrydbom@greeleytribune.com
Members of the District 6 board of education Council of Student Representatives from left: Marlee Snyder, 17, Amanda Cary, 17, Olivia Cardenas, 18, speak in front of Northridge High School teachers and faculty while presenting a lecture called "The Year of the Student." The students also spoke to the Colorado Legislature in Denver on the same topic.

JIM RYDBOM/jrydbom@greeleytribune.com
Northridge junior Amanda Cary, 16, presents to her teachers and faculty "The Year of the Student" at Northridge High School. Amanda and several District 6 students presented the same lecture to the Colorado Legislature on Jan.30

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For the past three years, every time Linda Trimberger came back from a Colorado Association of School Boards conference, you knew immediately what the first thing on her agenda would be.

The student groups were so wonderful, she would tell the board, “we really need to have one.”

The groups she was referring to were groups of students from across the state that reported directly to their respective school boards and helped keep them informed on things affecting students.

Trimberger asked for one every year, and finally, last year she got everyone to listen and the Council of Student Representatives was created. The inaugural students are in their first full year and are already making an impact on everyone they meet.

Three or four students from each high school were chosen by their principals to represent the school based on their grades and ability to lead, so it’s not surprising that when you get a group of them together, they can impress the best of them.

“We have seen firsthand a greater population in our schools that need extra resources,” said Steve Marcantonio, a senior at Greeley West High School, of whether the district needed additional resources. “If we did have the money, I trust this school board to spend it on those items.”

A Greeley Central representative, junior Patrick Ryan, said he never doubted officials when they said this district was one of the worst funded, but when he got involved with the CSR and got an inside look at things, it really drove the message home.

“It didn’t shock me,” he said. “Being a student, people tell you all the time you can’t afford something. But this really put it into perspective where we are compared to other districts.”

The students recently presented their first major project, “The Year of the Student,” to the school board at a regular meeting. The project is part of a statewide initiative that asks the Colorado Legislature to address Colorado’s poor funding mechanism for K-12 and higher education.

“We just kind of hopped on the bandwagon,” Steve said with a laugh.

On Jan. 30, the group along with several dozen other student groups presented their message to the Legislature and governor via a petition that said lack of funding can’t be business as usual this session. The petition was signed by more than 8,000 people from across the state.

The experiences that this opportunity gives to students are some they will never forget.

“This really broadened my horizons in understanding the challenges the district truly does face,” said Jacquelyn English, a sophomore at Northridge. “It has also allowed me a closer relationship with Trimberger and (Superintendent) Dr. Lang.”

The students said when they first learned about CSR they were excited to get on board because they want to help their district get better.

“I really like the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself,” said Amanda Cary, a Northridge junior. “I wanted to have a broader role in my school.”

Northridge Principal Wes Paxton sponsors the group. He said when he first learned about the idea he was excited to help out anyway he could.

“Working with students in District 6, you see they want a voice,” he said. “You see they want to change the community for the better. They want to bring students together to give them choices and to make a difference.”

Aaron Zimola, a junior at West, said getting students to sign the petition at his school was pretty easy. He said he and Steve used the same line on everyone.

“See that roof three feet above you that’s about to fall? If it falls on you, it will give you cancer,” the two said with a cautious laugh about the condition of West and the asbestos it holds in its rafters.

“We want them to know this district is great already, but it could be so much greater if we had more money,” Steve said.

“We have one of the highest percentages of poverty, but one of the lowest budgets,” Aaron added. “And we are the future.”

Marlee Snyder, a junior at Northridge, said they all know it takes a lot to change policy but they just wanted the legislature to hear them out.

“If they think about it, it means more coming from us,” Marlee said. “Because we’re the kids that see it everyday.”

The students will now begin to work on their next big projects which include hosting a leadership conference for eighth-graders in the district and a walk to educate the community about the schools and what they mean.

“They are hoping if people will walk with them they will realize that this district has good students, good teachers and good administrators,” Paxton said. “And that they are doing good things and care about these kids.”

Trimberger said this was exactly what she hoped for when she envisioned this type of student engagement.

“It has been an honor to work with this group of students,” she said during the board meeting on Jan. 28 when the students presented their project. “They really are the future and probably will be sitting in these chairs some day. They are a great group of students.”

Sherrie Peif covers education for The Tribune. Her column runs on Mondays. If you have an idea for a feature, contact Sherrie at (970) 392-5632 or by email at speif@greeleytribune.com.

We want them to know this district is great already, but it could be so much greater if we had more money. — Steve Marcantonio, Greeley West High School council member